Mike Mast

246C DeVos
(616) 331-6579
MastM@gvsu.edu

Dr. Myron (Mike) Mast holds degrees in political science and public administration from Calvin College and the University of Colorado. His National Science Foundation grant permitted extensive study of public policy issues at the University of Minnesota. He also completed a period of post-doctoral study in criminal justice at Michigan State University. Dr. Mast has taught various courses at both the graduate and undergraduate level, but currently concentrates mainly on teaching undergraduate courses. The courses he currently teaches include the survey course in public/non-profit administration, public personnel policy and administration, and local politics and administration.

Professor Mast's research interests have evolved over the years from (1) land use planning issues to (2) privatization via nonprofit organizations (3) to energy policy [gasoline], transportation issues [automobiles and highways] and resultant land use issues. He has presented papers and coordinated panels on these topics at local, regional and national conferences.

>When he arrived at Grand Valley in 1975, the undergraduate PA program was part of the School of Public Service (SPS) within the College of Arts and Sciences. SPS included undergraduate programs in public administration, criminal justice and legal studies. For the next 15 years and through several reorganizations, Dr. Mast remained affiliated with those programs. The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, created in the Seidman College of Business in 1978, joined with the undergraduate public administration program in 1982. Dr. Mast coordinated the public administration programs during the mid-1980's, a time of continual growth in enrollment. The School of Public Administration gained autonomy in 1990 and moved to the Grand Rapids campus.

In the early 1990's, Dr. Mast's interest in nonprofit organizations encouraged significant departmental interest and resource development in nonprofits and philanthropy. The University was able to obtain a Kellogg grant in 1991 to begin what is now called the Dorothy B. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership (JCPNL). In 1996, the School of Public Administration officially became the School of Public and Nonprofit Administration.

Over three decades, Dr. Mast helped nurture the GVSU public and nonprofit administration programs into a strong and diverse training ground for Michigan's public and nonprofit leaders. His activities included:

• undergraduate and graduate program development and coordination
• coordination of undergraduate and graduate internships (until 2004)
• accompanying several mid-career graduate students to England during the summer of 1999 to participate in the Bristol International Credit-Earning Program in southwest England.
• leading the organizing efforts in the mid-1980's to establish the West Michigan Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration and served as its founding President;
• consulting on position classification and salary survey work in northern Indiana and survey research and data analysis in Michigan;
• receiving a 30-year Service Award from President Mark Murray in December, 2005.

Dr. Mast is currently engaging in a period of "phased retirement" (half-time employment). He enjoys fixing and painting old houses as an avocation. He continues to find it challenging to work with exceptional colleagues and students at GVSU. Reflecting on the past, he is grateful for the energetic leadership of individuals like former Director, Dr. Eleanor French and former Professor (and former Johnson Center Director), Dr. Donna VanIwaarden. He is thankful for the special working relationships that evolved over many years with colleagues such as the late Drs. Robert Clarke and Jimmy Walker. These and many other competent and decent colleagues have helped create an enjoyable and productive worklife.